Jon Schaffer

Article summary

Jon Ryan Schaffer ( ; born March 15, 1968) is an American heavy metal musician. He is the rhythm guitarist, bandleader and principal songwriter of the Indiana-based heavy metal band Iced Earth, which he formed in 1985 under the name Purgatory. He is also the lead singer in his political side project Sons of Liberty and, until 2021, played guitar for Demons & Wizards, his collaboration with Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kürsch. Schaffer pleaded guilty to crimes related to his participation in the January 6 United States Capitol attack in 2021 and was sentenced to three years probation before being pardoned in 2025.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1968-03-15 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of formation: 1985 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of formation: 1985-01-20 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of formation: 2009 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. release date: 1995 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. release date: 2001 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. release date: 2004 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
8. release date: 2007-09-11 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
9. release date: 2008-09-05 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
10. release date: 2011-10-17 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
11. release date: 2000 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
12. release date: 2005 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
13. release date: 2020 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
14. release date: 2009 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1968-03-15". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of formation is "1985". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of formation is "1985-01-20". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of formation is "2009". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the release date is "1995". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the release date is "2001". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the release date is "2004". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. The record states that the release date is "2007-09-11". What evidence would count against this claim?
10. The record states that the release date is "2008-09-05". What evidence would count against this claim?
11. The record states that the release date is "2011-10-17". What evidence would count against this claim?
12. The record states that the release date is "2000". What evidence would count against this claim?
13. The record states that the release date is "2005". What evidence would count against this claim?
14. The record states that the release date is "2020". What evidence would count against this claim?
15. The record states that the release date is "2009". What evidence would count against this claim?
16. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
17. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359725151